I was so inspired reading Dr. John M. Grohol, World of Psychology post "50 Years Later, Mental Health Care in America Still Hard to Come By" that I pulled out my tablet and started drawing while I was still reading. I had the whole Mental Health Humor cartoon idea in...

World Mental Health Day: Depression
Every year on the 10th of October,* The World Health Organization joins in celebrating World Mental Health Day. Here at Psych Central we are (as a network) participating our 3rd Annual World Mental Health Day . This year World Mental Health Day: Mental Health and Older Adults.

Caption: Mindfulness Clear your Mind
I wish I was that good at mindfulness, to be able to just wipe away everything like clicking a delete button, then focus on nothing. I can do it, but it's normally due to medications and I black out and sleep. Nothing mind full in sleep like that, more like mind-void. It's not relaxing or comforting it just...

Chato's Wife
2012 Mental Health Hero Cartoon-A-Thon
Drawing done by Chato Stewart
Hi! I feel so privileged and honored to be included, however, I am no hero...just an ordinary woman relying on her faith to help her cope with extraordinary family circumstances.

My thoughts, prayers and "respect" go to all True Heroes--those living with the day-to-day, moment-to-moment challenges of chronic illness, pain of any kind and to their caregivers and loved ones!!

I'm thankful for the courageous example of the hero in my life, you know him as Chato Stewart. My husband has been a mentor of mine for 20 plus years now. The lessons he teaches have not always been funny or easy, but necessary for my personal growth as an individual. I am still a work in progress, but hope to reach my full potential some day...

I've learned the importance of distinguishing the "real" person from the symptoms of his illness. I've learned the value of patience, endurance, forgiveness and compassion when dealing with unexpected, unforeseen chaos. I've learned a family can survive many emotional tsunamis with God's help and with support of true friends. Most of all, I've learned LOVE...."bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things....because Love never fails."

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you probably know about my annual Cartoon-A-thon for Mental Health Awareness month. Here in short is the history of the Cartoon-A-thon:

In 2008 when I started blogging, I decided to do something special for the month of mental illness awareness in May. (Will you?) I decided I would draw a cartoon for each day of May. In 2008 and 2009, I drew just cartoons. That was a success, but something was missing. I felt I was being a little too self-deluded in my own cartoons. Then, I drew two of my readers into cartoon characters.

My peers were so elated that I drew them into the cartoons. Which gave me an idea - but I didn't think I had the skill set to even attempt this idea.

Meet our second Mental Health Hero Clive Edwards. He is a well traveled guy, both in reality and in his own mind with his recovery. From England to Saudi Arabia, Singapore and America... Clive a.k.a "WILD" has been around...even lived in L.A. during the 1990 riots.

His recovery, like our own, sometimes comes with hills and valleys and his mental health story of survival and recovery and “wellness” is amazing! Read more about Clive and each Mental Health Hero at

Saturday, I was privileged to be a part of the "Sunshine from Darkness" symposium community resource table! It gave me an opportunity to showcase some of my cartoons and to meet many other providers and consumers in the local area.

Although I live an hour away from Sarasota, I had to be there by 7 AM. I knew if I could just make it...it would be an incredible day! And yes, I did get up at five in the morning and drive there and I was "early" enough to set up my display.

Title: Thinking Outside The Box
Mental Illness, Bipolar, Depression and the Homeless sometime, NO... many times gohand in hand. It is extremely difficult to keep a job if we are experiencing an "episode." How can we pay the rent when we are off in la-la-land or too depressed to even take care of our own basic hygiene and can't even get out of bed or leave the house?!

CABF is competing for a $250,000 grant from The Pepsi Refresh Project during the month of November. The winners will be decided by popular vote. CABF needs your votes every day this month!We have a chance to help the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation get a grant of $250,000. A grant just by voting for them... That is money that will go to help children who will grow up understanding mental illness - not like us, who were left in the wind to fight our own fight alone!!